Online Library of Selected Images:
-- SHIPS of the CONFEDERATE STATES --

CSS General Beauregard (1862)

CSS General Beauregard, a 454-ton side-wheel river steamer,
was built at Algiers, Louisiana in 1847 as a towboat. Under the
name Ocean, she was taken over by the Confederacy in January
1862 and converted a "cottonclad" ram. Renamed General
Beauregard, she was commissioned as part of the River Defense
Fleet in April 1862 and sent up the Mississippi to Tennessee.
She took part in the naval actions off Fort Pillow on 10 May 1862
and Memphis on 6 June. In the latter action, General Beauregard
closely engaged the Federal ram Monarch and ironclad Benton before being disabled and sunk.

Click on the small photograph to prompt
a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 42755

"Battle of Fort Pillow, 3rd Position"

Engraving published in Rear Admiral Henry Walke's "Naval
Scenes and Reminiscences of the Civil War in the United States
..." (1877), depicting the action between the Confederate
River Defense Fleet and Federal ironclads near Fort Pillow, Tennessee,
10 May 1862.
Confederate ships, seen at left, include: Colonel Lovell,
General Beauregard, General M. Jeff Thompson, General
Bragg, General Sumter, Little Rebel and General
Earl van Dorn.
The Federal ironclads, in the center and right, are: Carondelet,
Cincinnati, Mound City, Benton, Saint
Louis, Cairo and Pittsburg. A tug is seen in
the right foreground.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 94KB; 740 x 435 pixels.

Photo #: NH 58891

"The Great Naval Battle before Memphis, June 6, 1862"

Engraving after a sketch by Alexander Simplot, published in "Harper's
Weekly", depicting the action between the Confederate River
Defense Fleet and Federal warships off Memphis, Tennessee.
In the center foreground the CSS General Beauregard is
being rammed by the Federal ram Monarch. At left are the
disabled Federal ram Queen of the West and the Confederate
ships General Sterling Price and Little Rebel.
Other Federal ships are in the center and left distance, with
other Confederate ships in the center and right middle distance.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 310 pixels

Photo #: NH 42367

"The Total Annihilation of the Rebel Fleet by the Federal
Fleet under Commodore Davis."
"On the Morning of June 6th 1862, off Memphis, Ten."

Lithograph by Middleton, Strobridge & Co.
In the foreground, the print depicts the Confederate ships (from
left to right): General M. Jeff Thompson (shown sinking);
Little Rebel (shown burning); General Sterling Price;
General Beauregard (shown being rammed by the Ellet Ram
Monarch); General Bragg (shown aground) and Colonel
Lovell (shown sinking).
In the background are the Federal warships (from left to right):
Queen of the West; Cairo; Carondelet; Louisville;
Saint Louis; a tug; and Benton.
The city of Memphis is in the right distance, with a wharf boat
by the shore.

Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation.

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 102KB; 740 x 570 pixels

Photo #: NH 59053

"Closing-Scene of the Naval Engagement Before Memphis, Tennessee.",
6 June 1862

Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 1862.
Ships shown are (from left to right): CSS General Earl Van
Dorn (escaping, with the Federal fleet in pursuit); General
Sumter (captured); General Beauregard (sinking) and
General M. Jeff Thompson (blowing up).

U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph.

Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 305 pixels

Photo #: NH 59054

"Appearance of the Rebel Ram Beauregard and Jeff Thompson
after the Fight.", off Memphis, Tennessee, 6 June 1862

Line engraving published in "Harper's Weekly", 1862.
CSS General Beauregard is shown sunk to her superstructure
deck in right center (with smoke still coming from her stack!),
with a Federal tug standing by in the right center. CSS General
M. Jeff Thompson is burning, with only smoke visible, in
the far right background.